ABUJA — In a diplomatic overture aimed at supercharging bilateral trade, Turkey has authorized its embassy in Abuja to issue visas directly to Nigerian businessmen without requiring approval from Ankara, eliminating longstanding bureaucratic hurdles that have long frustrated cross-border commerce.
The announcement came during a courtesy call on Monday by Mehmet Poroy, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nigeria, to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike. Poroy, who has been in post for nearly six months but is still awaiting formal presentation of his credentials, positioned the visa simplification as a cornerstone of Ankara’s strategy to deepen economic engagement with Africa’s largest economy.
“We have facilitated visa procedures for businessmen so they can travel easily,” Poroy told Wike. “We no longer need to ask Ankara for their visa. At the embassy, we can give it directly under certain conditions.” 0 He underscored that economic cooperation forms “the most important aspect” of Nigeria-Turkey relations, highlighting the deployment of two commercial counselors and active partnerships with Nigerian ministries.
Poroy also revealed that internal approvals have been finalized to establish a Turkish Consulate General in Lagos, a development expected to streamline trade facilitation, investment flows, and cultural exchanges in Nigeria’s commercial hub. 3 Expressing gratitude for the warm reception afforded to Turkish expatriates in Abuja, he added: “Your services and institutions provide all the services we enjoy. Thank you for hosting us very comfortably. I believe I will have very nice and fruitful years here.” 1
Wike, a key architect of President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda, warmly reciprocated, hailing the visa reforms as a game-changer for Nigerian entrepreneurs. “Let me thank you for expediting the process of obtaining visas. It has been quite worrisome to Nigerians, particularly Abuja residents. Businessmen who want to go to Turkey will now not find it difficult,” he said. 2
The FCT minister pledged to cultivate a harassment-free business climate, inviting Turkish investors to leverage Abuja’s growth as a nexus for regional commerce. “We intend to provide a free environment where citizens, without molestation, can carry out their businesses,” Wike affirmed. He expressed keen interest in twinning Abuja with Istanbul to foster joint ventures in trade, urban development, and technology transfer, building on the historically cordial ties between the nations.
This engagement arrives amid broader Turkish efforts to expand its footprint in Africa, including earlier announcements in May targeting a $5 billion trade surge with Nigeria through eased visa regimes and new consular outposts. 9 Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately $2.3 billion in 2024, dominated by Turkish exports of machinery, textiles, and construction materials, with Nigerian oil and agricultural products forming key imports.
As Poroy’s first major outreach to a Nigerian federal heavyweight, the meeting signals Ankara’s proactive diplomacy under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration. Stakeholders anticipate that these measures could catalyze a new era of investment, potentially unlocking opportunities in renewable energy, housing, and logistics—sectors where Turkish firms have already made inroads in Nigeria.
